Dock for a portable electronic device

ABSTRACT

A dock for a portable electronic device includes a base and a cradle defining an interior volume configured to house at least a portion of the portable electronic device. The dock further includes an arm rotatably coupled to the base at a first end and rotatably coupled to the cradle at a second end. A security apparatus is configured to be inserted into a slot of the portable electronic device upon insertion of the portable electronic device into the cradle to prohibit removal of the portable electronic device from the dock.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent ApplicationNo. 62/640,338, filed Mar. 8, 2018, the entire contents of which areincorporated by reference herein.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to docking stations for portableelectronic devices.

SUMMARY

In one embodiment, the invention provides a dock for a portableelectronic device. The dock includes a base and a cradle defining aninterior volume configured to house at least a portion of the portableelectronic device. The dock further includes an arm rotatably coupled tothe base at a first end and rotatably coupled to the cradle at a secondend. A security apparatus is configured to be inserted into a port ofthe portable electronic device upon insertion of the portable electronicdevice into the cradle to prohibit removal of the portable electronicdevice from the dock.

In another embodiment, the invention provides a dock for a portableelectronic device. The dock includes a base configured to rest upon awork surface, a cradle having a lower channel, a first side channelextending perpendicularly from a first end of the lower channel, and asecond side channel extending perpendicularly from a second end of thelower channel opposite the first end, and an arm rotatably coupled tothe base at a first end and rotatably coupled to the cradle at a secondend. Each of the lower channel, the first side channel, and the secondside channel is configured to accept an edge of the portable electronicdevice.

In yet another embodiment, the invention provides a method of docking aportable electronic device to a dock. The dock includes a base, an armrotatably coupled to the base, a cradle mounted to the base via the arm,and a locking apparatus supported by the cradle and having an electricalconnector. The method includes positioning the locking apparatus in adisengaged position such that the electrical connector does not extendinto a channel defined by the cradle, inserting the portable electronicdevice into the cradle such that the cradle at least partially surroundsa plurality of the sides of the portable electronic device, moving thelocking apparatus into an engaged position such that the electricalconnector extends into the channel and engages the portable electronicdevice, and locking the locking apparatus in the engaged position.

Other aspects of the invention will become apparent by consideration ofthe detailed description and accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a system including a portable electronicdevice and a dock.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the dock shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the dock shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a rear view of the dock shown in FIG. 1

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the system shown in FIG. 1 withperipheral devices, and further with the dock in a vertical desktoporientation.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the system shown in FIG. 1 with aperipheral device, and further with the dock in a horizontal tabletorientation.

FIG. 7 is a partially deconstructed perspective view of a portion of acradle of the dock, illustrating a path for an electrical wire at anupper hinge point.

FIG. 8 is a partially deconstructed perspective view of a portion of abase of the dock, illustrating a path for the electrical wire at a lowerhinge point.

FIG. 9 is a partial perspective view of the cradle illustrating asecurity apparatus.

FIG. 10A is a front view of the dock shown in FIG. 1 with the securityapparatus in an engaged position

FIG. 10B is a front view of the dock shown in FIG. 1 with the securityapparatus in a disengaged position

FIG. 11 is a partially deconstructed perspective view of various aspectsof the security apparatus of the dock of FIG. 1.

FIG. 12 is a partially deconstructed perspective view of variousadditional aspects of the security apparatus of FIG. 11.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a portion of the dock with a lockingmechanism removed.

FIG. 14 is a perspective view the dock, where portions of the dock aretransparent to show internal components of the dock.

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of the dock and a stylus.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Before any embodiments of the invention are explained in detail, it isto be understood that the invention is not limited in its application tothe details of construction and the arrangement of components set forthin the following description or illustrated in the following drawings.The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced orof being carried out in various ways.

FIG. 1 illustrates a system 10 including a portable electronic device 14and a dock 18. The illustrated portable electronic device 14 is a tabletcomputer. In other embodiments, the portable electronic device 14 may beanother type of device, such as a smartphone, an eReader, an MP3 player,and the like.

The dock 18 attaches to the portable electronic device 14 to secure thedevice 14 and to support the portable electronic device 14 in aplurality of positions for presentation, operation, and/or storage. Inthe illustrated embodiment, the dock 18 includes a base 22, a cradle 26,and one or more arms 38, 42 extending between the base 22 and the cradle26.

As shown in FIGS. 2-4, the base 22 includes a flat lower surface 22Aadjacent to or contacting a work surface, such as a desk. The lowersurface 22A may be provided with feet 22D or an anti-skid material tolimit inadvertent movement of the dock 18 relative to the work surface.An upper surface 22B of the base 22 is opposite the lower surface 22A. Arear surface 22C of the base 22 extends between the lower and uppersurfaces 22A, 22B. The rear surface 22C supports and presents aplurality of ports 30.

As shown in FIG. 4, a lock-slot 30A is provided on the base 22. Asecurity apparatus (not shown) may be inserted into the lock-slot 30Afor fixing the dock 18 to an immovable object to inhibit theft of thedock 18 and/or the portable electronic device 14 positioned in the dock18. In some embodiments, the security apparatus may be, for example, alaptop lock having a security cable, such as the MicroSaver® orClickSafe® laptop locks sold by Kensington®. The remainder of the ports30B-30L provide attachment points for peripheral electrical devices forinterfacing with the portable electronic device 14 via an electricalconnector 48 (FIG. 9). For example, a power port 30I and/or a power anddata transmission port 30C (e.g., USB C port, USB C 3.1 port, etc.) areprovided for charging the portable electronic device 14. Further ports30D-30L (e.g., USB ports 30D, 30E, Ethernet port 30F, HDMI port 30G,Display Port 30H, and Audio In/Out port 30B) and additional slots (e.g.,SD card slot; not shown) provide the ability to connect the portableelectronic device 14 to peripherals such as SD cards, monitors,projectors, keyboards, a computer mouse and other pointer devices,routers, and audio devices such as speakers. Further, the base 22 maysupport internal electrical components such as a wireless transceiverand an internal storage device.

The cradle 26 is sized to accept the portable electronic device 14 in aspecific orientation. As shown in FIG. 1, the cradle 26 is sized toaccept the electronic device 14 in a landscape orientation.Alternatively, the cradle 26 may be sized to accept the electronicdevice 14 in a portrait orientation, or may otherwise be expandable,scalable, or non-rigid (e.g., having some elasticity) to accept theelectronic device 14 in either orientation.

As shown in FIG. 2, the cradle 26 includes a lower section 26A defininga lower channel (e.g., a U-shaped channel having three sides at 90degrees to one another) for supporting and surrounding a lower side oredge of the portable electronic device 14. The cradle 26 furtherincludes first and second side sections 26B, 26C extending parallel toone another from the lower section 26A. The first and second sidesections 26B, 26C further define side channels in facing relation to oneanother. The first side section 26B extends perpendicularly from a firstend of the lower section 26A, and the second side section 26C extendsperpendicularly from a second end of the lower section 26A that isopposite the first end. The lower and side sections 26A, 26B, 26Ccollectively form the cradle 26 defining an interior volume to at leastpartially surround the portable electronic device 14 on three of thefour edges of the electronic device 14. For example, as shown in FIG. 1,the portable electronic device 14 is surrounded completely on the loweredge and is partially surrounded on the side edges. The channels maycontain a compressible material (e.g., a rubber or elastomeric strip) atdiscrete locations within the channels or along the length of thechannels to snugly secure the portable electronic device 14 within thechannels. The compressible material may also reduce the possibility ofmarring the portable electronic device 14 as the device 14 is insertedinto and removed from the cradle 26.

As shown in FIG. 2, the cradle 26 further includes a rear wall 26D thatspans the distance between the lower and side sections 26A, 26B, 26C ata location behind the channels. The rear wall 26D provides a backrestfor the portable electronic device 14 to further support the portableelectronic device 14. In some embodiments, the rear wall 26D may includea relatively soft material (e.g., foam) and/or a tacky material (e.g.,rubber) to inhibit the portable electronic device 14 fromunintentionally slipping out of the cradle 26. The soft or tackymaterial also inhibits the cradle 26 from marring surfaces of theportable electronic device 14.

With reference again to FIGS. 2-4, the illustrated dock 18 includes twoarms 38, 42. In some embodiments, the dock 18 may only include one arm.The arms 38, 42 support the cradle 26 relative to the base 22 and areidentical to one another except as otherwise described. Each arm 38, 42includes a lower end 38A, 42A and an upper end 38B, 42B opposite therespective lower end 38A, 42A. The body of each arm 38, 42 is elongatedbetween the lower and upper ends 38A, 42A, 38B, 42B. The lower end 38A,42A of each arm 38, 42 is rotatably fixed to the base 22 at a firstpivot point defining a first axis A1. The arms 38, 42 may rotate, forexample, within a range from 0-80 degrees from the base 22. The upperend 38B, 42B of each arm 38, 42 is rotatably fixed to the cradle 26 at asecond pivot point defining a second axis A2. The cradle 26 may rotate,for example, within a range from 160-50 degrees from the arms 28, 42.The first and second axes A1, A2 are parallel with one another. Thefirst and second axes A1, A2 are also offset from one another. Therigidity of the base 22, cradle 26, and arms 38, 42 generates similarmotions between the first and second arms 38, 42 when one or the otherof the arms 38, 42 is rotated, or when the cradle 26 is rotated relativeto the base 22.

The dock 18 is configured to transition between a range of positions andis operable to hold a plurality of positions within the range. The arms38, 42 are rotatable relative to the base 22 about the first axis A1along a first range of positions. In the illustrated embodiment, afriction hinge defines the first axis A1 so that the arms 38, 42 mayhold firm at any point along the first range, requiring a force greaterthan the cantilevered weight of the portable electronic device 14 in thecradle 26 to move from one position to another. Alternatively, the firstaxis A1 may have discrete detents spaced apart from one another forholding the arms 38, 42 relative to the base 22 at the discrete points.The force to overcome the detent force to move from one detent to thenext is likewise greater than the cantilevered weight of the portableelectronic device 14 in the cradle 26. Similarly, the cradle 26 isrotatable relative to the arms 38, 42 about the second axis A2 along asecond range of positions, and may be supported in position by a holdingmechanism such as a friction hinge or discrete detents. The embodimentshown in FIGS. 2-4 utilizes a friction hinge.

As shown in FIGS. 5-6, some of the positions within the range ofpositions may include a standing desktop orientation (FIG. 5) and areclined tablet orientation (FIG. 6). The standing desktop orientation,as shown, may be useful for a desktop application for use with discreteperipherals such as a keyboard 70 and a mouse 74. In the standingorientation, the portable electronic device 14 is docked in a verticalor near vertical orientation (i.e., an orientation in which the screenor front face of the portable electronic device 14 is less than 45degrees from vertical; vertical being defined as perpendicular to thesurface upon which the lower surface 22A of the dock 18 rests). Thestanding orientation is produced by rotating the arms 38, 42 relative tothe base 22 around the first axis A1 such that the cradle 26 is spacedabove the base 22 and rotating the cradle 26 about the second axis A2such that the portable electronic device 14 is oriented at or near thevertical orientation.

In the reclined orientation, the system 10 may be useful for directinteraction with the portable electronic device 14. As shown in FIG. 6,a user may use a stylus 78 or other input device (e.g., finger) directlyon the surface (e.g., screen) of the portable electronic device 14. Inthe reclined orientation, the portable electronic device 14 is docked ina horizontal or near horizontal orientation (i.e., an orientation inwhich the screen or front face of the portable electronic device 14 isless than 45 degrees from horizontal; horizontal being defined asperpendicular to vertical). To transition from the standing orientationto the reclined orientation, the cradle 26 is rotated about the secondaxis A2 such that the portable electronic device 14 is oriented at ornear the horizontal orientation and the arms 38, 42 are rotated aboutthe first axis A1 such that the cradle 26 is adjacent to (or directlycontacts) the base 22.

As shown in FIG. 15, the dock 18 may include a coupling member on thedock 18 as a mounting location for an input device, such as the stylus78. In the illustrated embodiment, the coupling member includes aferrous metal strip 78A. As shown, the ferrous metal strip 78A may beadhered to an external side of the cradle 26 or embedded in a side ofthe cradle 26. The stylus 78 (or other input device) may include magnetsor a magnetic surface for engaging the metal strip 78A and storing thestylus 78 relative to the dock 18. In other embodiments, the dock 18 mayinclude other suitable coupling members, such as a U-shaped clip, asleeve, hook and loop fasteners (e.g., Velcro®), and the like. Infurther embodiments, the coupling member may be located elsewhere on thedock 18.

As shown in FIGS. 7-8, at least one of the arms 38, 42 (as shown thefirst arm 38) includes a pathway 38C extending from the upper end 38B tothe lower end 38A. The pathway 38C is configured for routing electricalwiring 46. As shown in FIG. 14, the pathway 38C may also be used forrouting a security cable 52. The electrical wiring 46 includes one ormore electrical wires or ribbons and extends from a first end within thebase 22 (and, more particularly, connected to the ports 30A-30L and anyinternal electrical components such as a wireless transceiver or storagedevices in the base 22), through a semi-circular opening 38D at thelower end 38A of the arm 38 (FIG. 8), through the arm 38, through anaperture 26E in the rear section 26D of the cradle 26 (FIG. 7), and to asecond end located at the cradle 26. The second end of the wiring 46terminates in a data transmission apparatus or electrical connector 48(FIG. 9). The electrical connector 48 may be connected to the portableelectronic device 14 mounted within the cradle 26 for transmitting data,power, or both data and power connections from the electronic device 14to the ports 30A-30L.

In addition to or in replacement of the electrical wiring 46, the cradle26 may be provided with a wireless data and/or power transmission deviceto communicate with the ports 30B-30L in the base 22 of the dock 18.

As shown in FIG. 14, the security cable 52 extends through the samepathway 38C as the electrical wiring 46. Alternatively, the securitycable 52 may extend through a different pathway within the same arm 38or through a separate pathway in the other arm 42. The security cable 52is a cut-resistant cable (e.g., made of woven or braided steel) andextends from a first end 52A within the base 22 to a second end 52Bwithin the cradle 26. The first end 52A includes a loop and is affixedaround a component such as a post or fastener 56A (e.g., screw, rivet)within the base 22. The second end 52B likewise includes a loop and isaffixed to a component such as a post or fastener 56B (e.g., screw,rivet) within the cradle 26. The security cable 52 fixes the base 22relative to the cradle 26 (and the portable electronic device 14 lockedto the cradle 26) to inhibit unwanted disassembly of the base 22 fromthe cradle 26.

As shown in FIGS. 1-4 and FIG. 9, the dock 18 includes a securityapparatus 50 mounted to the cradle 26. In the illustrated embodiment,the security apparatus 50 is mounted to the second side section 26C ofthe cradle 26. In other embodiments, the security apparatus 50 may bemounted elsewhere on the cradle 26, such as the lower section 26A, thefirst side section 26A, or the rear wall 26D. The illustrated securityapparatus 50 includes a security apparatus housing 54, a lock head 58,and a locking mechanism 62. The housing 54 is mounted to the cradle 26and is movable (e.g., slidable, rotatable, etc.) relative to the cradle26 between an engaged position (FIG. 10A) and a disengaged position(FIG. 10B). In the illustrated embodiment, the housing 54 is movabletoward and away from the cradle 26 in the direction of arrows A and B(FIG. 9). The lock head 58 is coupled to the housing 54. As shown, thelock head 58 includes the electrical connector 48. In other embodiments,the lock head 58 may be an alternative security anchor.

As shown in FIG. 10B, in the disengaged position, the security apparatushousing 54 and the lock head 58 are spaced away from the channel of thecradle 26 such that the portable electronic device 14 is insertable andremovable from the channel of the cradle 26 without interference fromthe security apparatus 50. A spacer 80 is fixed to the housing 54 andshrouds the lock head 58 (shown in hidden lines in FIGS. 10A-10B) whenthe housing 54 is in the disengaged position. After the portableelectronic device 14 is inserted into the cradle 26, the housing 54 andlock head 58 are moved (e.g., automatically via a motor or spring,manually by pressing the housing 54, etc.) toward the channel to theengaged position (FIG. 10A) to engage the lock head 58 with theelectronic device 14. When the lock head 58 includes the electricalconnector 48, moving the lock head 58 to the engaged position includesinserting the electrical connector 48 into a mating electrical connectorport on the portable electronic device 14. As noted above, theelectrical connector 48 is connected to the ports 30 (FIG. 4) of thedock 18 via the electrical wiring 46 (FIG. 14). When the lock head 58 ismoved to the engaged position, the electrical connector 48 therebyconnects the portable electronic device 14 to the ports 30.

Alternatively, if the lock head 58 does not include the electricalconnector 48, engaging the lock head 58 with the electronic device 14includes moving the lock head 58 relative to the portable electronicdevice 14 to a position that inhibits removal of the portable electronicdevice 14. This may include positioning the lock head 58 into theportable electronic device 14, into a slot or groove defined by theportable electronic device 14, or above a portion (e.g., lip orshoulder) of the portable electronic device 14 to inhibit removal of theportable electronic device 14 from the cradle 26.

As shown in FIG. 12, the locking mechanism 62 is mounted to the rearsection 26D of the cradle 26 adjacent to the housing 54. The lockingmechanism 62 includes a cam 84 that is rotatable between a firstposition and a second position. The first position corresponds to anunlocked position in which the housing 54 and the lock head 58 are freeto move between the engaged and the disengaged positions. The secondposition corresponds to a locked position in which the housing 54 andthe lock head 58 are locked in the engaged position. The cam 84, andmore specifically, a lobe 88A of the cam 84 is illustrated in FIG. 12 inboth the first position (illustrated in dashed lines) and the secondposition (illustrated in solid lines) of the cam 84. The lobe 88Aengages with the housing 54 or with an element, such as a plate orbracket 92 fixed to the housing 54, when the cam 84 is in the secondposition to block movement of the housing 54 from the engaged position.The lobe 88A further rests against a portion 62A of the lockingmechanism 62 when the locking mechanism 62 is in the first position. Theportion 62A of the locking mechanism functions as a guide along whichthe locking mechanism 62 rotates between the first and second positions.A set screw 90 retains the lobe 88A in place and further limits therotation of the lobe 88A.

As shown in FIG. 12, when in the second position, the lobe 88A of thecam 84 abuts against a post or protrusion 92A of the plate 92 to inhibitmovement of the plate 92 (and the housing 54) relative to the cradle 26in the direction of arrow B. A second bracket 96 is positioned withinthe cradle 26 (e.g., within the rear wall 26D of the cradle) and isattached to the locking mechanism 62 (e.g., via threaded fasteners 94).The bracket 96 is, for example, a plastic bracket and assists inlocating and providing a smooth guide for the plate 92. As shown in FIG.11, an oblong plate 86A is fastened to the bracket 96 via the fasteners94 to hold the bracket 96 to the plate 92 and permit the plate 92 totranslate (or otherwise move) relative to the bracket 96 within a slot86B.

With continued reference to FIGS. 11-12, the second bracket 96 is fixedrelative to the cradle 26. The plate 92 is slidable within the secondbracket 96 (as limited by the slot 86B and the surrounding bracket 96)such that the housing 54 of the security apparatus 50 is slidablebetween the engaged and disengaged positions. As shown in FIG. 11, thesecond bracket 96 includes a first bracket portion 96A and a secondbracket portion 96B fixed to the first bracket portion 96A (e.g., viafasteners 98). The plate 92 slides within the second bracket portion96B. The protrusion 92A interfaces with the cam 84 through an aperture96C in the second bracket 96.

In some embodiments, the locking mechanism 62 may automatically lock thehousing 54 and lock head 58 relative to the cradle 26 and the portableelectronic device 14 when the security apparatus 50 is placed in thesecond position. Alternatively, a user may manually lock the lockingmechanism 62 (e.g., with the key 66, by depressing a button, with afingerprint scanner, etc.) upon inserting the lock head 58 into theportable electronic device 14. To remove the portable electronic device14 from the dock 18, the locking mechanism 62 is manually unlocked(e.g., with a key 66, with an input to the portable electronic device,with a fingerprint scanner, etc.). Once unlocked, the user is operableto manually disengage the lock head 58 from the portable electronicdevice 14 by moving the housing 54 and lock head 58 away from the cradle26. Alternatively, the security apparatus 50 may be provided with aretraction device (e.g., spring, motor, etc.) for automatically movingthe housing 54 and lock head 58 to the disengaged position. As shown inFIG. 13, the locking mechanism 62 includes a removable lock 62B with arotatable post 62C in communication with the cam 84 such that rotationof the key 66 rotates the post 62C, which in turn rotates the cam 84.The removable lock 62B is removable from the remainder of the lockingmechanism 62 and may be replaceable with a non-functional plug iflocking of the cradle 26 is not desired.

Various features and advantages of the invention are set forth in thefollowing claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A dock for a portable electronic device, the dockcomprising: a base; a cradle defining an interior volume configured tohouse at least a portion of the portable electronic device; an armrotatably coupled to the base at a first end and rotatably coupled tothe cradle at a second end; and a security apparatus configured to beinserted into a port of the portable electronic device upon insertion ofthe portable electronic device into the cradle to prohibit removal ofthe portable electronic device from the dock.
 2. The dock of claim 1,wherein the security apparatus includes a data and power transmissionapparatus, wherein the base includes one or more ports, and wherein thedata and power transmission apparatus is electrically connected to theone or more ports.
 3. The dock of claim 1, wherein the cradle isrotatable relative to the base about a first axis defined at the firstend of the arm and about a second axis defined at the second end of thearm.
 4. The dock of claim 3, wherein the cradle is rotatable relative tothe arm about the first axis independent of rotation of the arm relativeto the base about the second axis.
 5. The dock of claim 3, wherein thedock is operable to rotate about the first axis and the second axis totransition between a vertical desktop orientation and a horizontaltablet orientation.
 6. The dock of claim 1, wherein the securityapparatus is mounted to the cradle.
 7. The dock of claim 6, wherein thesecurity apparatus includes a lock head movable relative to the dockbetween an engaged position and a disengaged position.
 8. The dock ofclaim 7, wherein the security apparatus further includes a lockingmechanism operable to lock the security mechanism in the engagedposition.
 9. The dock of claim 7, wherein the base supports one or moreelectrical ports, and wherein the lock head includes an electricalconnector operable to electrically connect the portable electronicdevice to the one or more electrical ports.
 10. The dock of claim 1,further comprising a security cable fixed to the base and to the cradle,wherein the security cable extends through the arm.
 11. The dock ofclaim 1, wherein the arm is a first arm, the dock further comprising asecond arm rotatably coupled to the base at a first end and rotatablycoupled to the cradle at a second end.
 12. A dock for a portableelectronic device, the dock comprising: a base configured to rest upon awork surface; a cradle having a lower channel, a first side channelextending perpendicularly from a first end of the lower channel, and asecond side channel extending perpendicularly from a second end of thelower channel opposite the first end; and an arm rotatably coupled tothe base at a first end and rotatably coupled to the cradle at a secondend, wherein each of the lower channel, the first side channel, and thesecond side channel is configured to accept an edge of the portableelectronic device.
 13. The dock of claim 12, further comprising anelectrical connector supported by the cradle, wherein the base supportsone or more ports electrically connected to the electrical connector,and wherein the electrical connector is insertable into the portableelectronic device when the portable electronic device is positionedwithin the cradle.
 14. The dock of claim 13, wherein electrical wiringextends through the arm to connect the electrical connector to the oneor more ports.
 15. The dock of claim 12, further comprising a securityapparatus operable to prohibit removal of the portable electronic devicefrom the dock, wherein the security apparatus is mounted to the cradle.16. The dock of claim 15, wherein the security apparatus is mounted tothe second side channel of the cradle.
 17. The dock of claim 15, whereinthe security apparatus includes an electrical connector that isinsertable into a port of the portable electronic device.
 18. A methodof docking a portable electronic device to a dock, the dock including abase, an arm rotatably coupled to the base, a cradle mounted to the basevia the arm, and a locking apparatus supported by the cradle and havingan electrical connector, the method comprising: positioning the lockingapparatus in a disengaged position such that the electrical connectordoes not extend into a channel defined by the cradle; inserting theportable electronic device into the cradle such that the cradle at leastpartially surrounds a plurality of the sides of the portable electronicdevice; moving the locking apparatus into an engaged position such thatthe electrical connector extends into the channel and engages theportable electronic device; and locking the locking apparatus in theengaged position.
 19. The method of claim 18, wherein moving the lockingapparatus into the engaged position further comprises pushing thelocking apparatus toward the cradle.
 20. The method of claim 18, whereinthe cradle is at least partially defined by a lower channel, a firstside channel, and a second side channel, wherein inserting the portableelectronic device into the cradle includes inserting a first edge of theelectronic device into the lower channel, inserting a second edge of theportable electronic device into the first side channel, and inserting athird edge of the portable electronic device into the second sidechannel.